Protective Glove

ABSTRACT

A reusable protective glove with antimicrobial properties. The reusable protective glove is formed from several layers incorporated together. A palm side of the reusable protective glove is formed from a polyester base layer and an antimicrobial outer layer. The antimicrobial outer layer is manufactured from copper mesh fabric or copper metal powder mesh. A back side of the reusable protective glove is formed from an expandable fabric material which is attached to the palm side along a seam. The reusable protective glove is tear resistant. Additionally, the antimicrobial outer layer is capable of killing pathogens on contact preventing retransmission of the pathogens.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/010,549, which was filed on Apr. 15, 2020 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to a protective glove, and more specifically to a protective antimicrobial glove that can eradicate pathogens on contact. Accordingly, the present specification makes specific reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally amenable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.

When using latex gloves or a similar product to protect one's self from pathogens, individuals are left vulnerable and at risk for infection. More specifically, the pathogens remain alive on the surface of the gloves, thereby allowing the pathogens to be retransmitted from surface to surface via the gloves. Latex and similar type gloves also increase the chance of self-infection by the wearer when the individual inadvertently touches his or her own face while wearing the glove that may already be contaminated. If the individual has a pre-existing medical condition, is elderly, or has a compromised immune system, they are at additional risk for infection and death from the transmission.

By way of background, microbes are tiny living things that are found all over and are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microbes live in water, soil, and in the air. The human body is home to millions of microbes too, also called microorganisms. Some microbes make people sick, while others are essential for health. The most common types of microbes are bacteria, viruses and fungi. Bacterial are single-cell organisms. Examples of dangerous bacteria include tuberculosis, salmonella, and staphylococcus bacteria. Viruses do not have cells but are made up of one or more molecules surrounded by a protein shell. Many viruses are responsible for diseases. Some forms of viruses are harmless and only trigger a minor cold, while others can cause serious diseases like AIDS. Other diseases caused by viruses include influenza (also known as the flu), measles, or inflammation of the liver (viral hepatitis). Diseases caused by fungi are called mycoses. Common examples include athlete's foot or fungal infections of the nails. Fungal infections can sometimes also cause inflammations of the lungs, or of mucous membranes in the mouth or on the reproductive organs and become life-threatening for people who have a weakened immune system.

A pathogen is a micro-organism that has the potential to cause disease. An infection is the invasion and multiplication of pathogenic microbes in an individual or population. Microbiological contamination refers to the non-intended or accidental introduction of microbes such as bacteria, yeast, mold, fungi, virus, prions, protozoa or their toxins and by-products. Pathogens need to find a route of entry onto or into the body to cause disease. Simply touching a contaminated surface is often all that is needed. This is commonly exacerbated when people touch their eyes, nose, or mouth thereby introducing the pathogen directly into the body greatly increasing the likelihood of infection.

The exact length of time microbes can remain on a surface where they are capable of causing infections is subject to such a large number of variables, which can either prolong or reduce the life cycle of a microbe. Many pathogens may well survive or persist on surfaces for weeks or even months and can thereby be a continuous source of transmission if no regular preventive surface disinfection is performed. The material of the surface is also a variable. For example, coronaviruses can persist on stainless steel, wood, and plastic for several days.

Environmental surfaces contaminated with pathogens can be sources of indirect transmission, and cleaning and disinfection are common interventions focused on reducing contamination levels. Cleaning these surfaces to remove pathogens is typically done with disinfectants, sanitizing agents, or soaps. Regular and routine cleaning is imperative, not only to prevent the colonization of surfaces by microbes and mitigating their negative effects on the surface, but also to prohibit their continued spread. Periodic cleaning of surfaces with disinfectants is a common approach. While cleaning is simple to perform, its efficacy is questionable, and in many cases is subject to budgetary constraints, chemical performance and human error. Additionally, its effect is short lived, being limited to the point when recontamination of the surface occurs. Once a surface is contaminated again, the pathogens will continue to survive until the area is disinfected again.

Copper and its alloys, such as brass, bronze and copper-nickel, are inherently antimicrobial materials. When cleaned regularly, frequently touched surfaces manufactured from uncoated copper alloy materials will continuously kill bacteria that cause infections. An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms, such as molds, fungi, viruses, bacteria, and other harmful microbes, or stops their growth. Science has demonstrated that there is an intrinsic efficacy of copper that destroys a wide range of microorganisms that threaten public health.

There are many known molecular mechanisms for the antimicrobial properties of copper and its alloys including the ability to, alter the 3-dimensional structure of proteins, for copper complexes to form radicals that inactivate viruses, disrupt enzyme structure, interfere with other essential elements, facilitate deleterious activity in superoxide radicals, interact with lipids causing peroxidation which opens holes in cell membranes, and impairing cellular metabolism in Escherichia coli cells. Additionally, researchers believe that elevated copper levels inside a cell causes oxidative stress that damages cells, causes a decline in membrane integrity of microbes leading to desiccation and cell death, and the breakdown of proteins into nonfunctional portions. There are many other known and hypothesized mechanisms for these antimicrobial properties as well.

Studies have shown that copper alloy surfaces kill over 99.9% of E. coli microbes after just 1-2 hours of contact. On other surfaces, such as stainless steel, the microbes have been shown to survive for weeks. Other studies have shown similar results for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile, Influenza-A, Adenovirus, and many other pathogens. While not every antimicrobial property of copper and copper alloys have been fully understood, there is a wide consensus in the scientific community that these materials are preferred antimicrobials.

In this manner, the improved protective glove of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives, thereby providing an easy solution to decrease the transmission of microbes and pathogens due to surface contact. A primary feature of the present invention is the construction of a glove with antimicrobial materials that kill many pathogens on contact. Finally, the improved antimicrobial protective glove of the present invention is capable of ensuring that pathogens are eliminated to prevent transmission through surface touching thereby decreasing the number of infections and associated fatalities caused by the spread of deadly pathogens.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a protective glove for reducing the transmission and infection of a wide variety of pathogens. The protective glove comprises a palm side and a back side. The palm side is joined to the backside along a seam. The palm side comprises an antimicrobial layer. The palm side further comprises a base layer disposed under and attached to the antimicrobial layer. The base layer is mechanically or adhesively bonded to the antimicrobial layer. The palm side is also tear resistant. The base layer is typically a flexible polyester material, canvas or oxford cotton fabric.

The antimicrobial layer has an antimicrobial effective amount of copper. The antimicrobial layer may be a copper woven mesh fabric, copper powder, or copper plated polyester fabric. The back side is typically manufactured from a wick-proof material. The back side may be manufactured from an elastane material, such as four-way spandex for flexibility.

In an additional embodiment, a protective glove comprises a palm side and a back side. The palm side is joined to the backside along a seam. The palm side comprises a flexible base layer and an antimicrobial copper layer. The flexible base layer is bonded to the antimicrobial layer. The base layer is adhesively bonded to the antimicrobial copper layer with a polymer adhesive. The polymer adhesive may be polymer rubber that is used to fuse the flexible base layer to the antimicrobial copper layer and creates a segregation of the conductive copper from a palm of a user's hand. The palm side is also tear resistant. The base layer is typically a polyester material, canvas or oxford cotton fabric.

The antimicrobial layer has an antimicrobial effective amount of copper. The antimicrobial layer may be a pure copper powder mesh with a mesh count of approximately between 300 and 400, a copper woven mesh fabric, copper powder, or copper plated polyester fabric. The back side is typically manufactured from a wick-proof material. The back side may be manufactured from an elastane material, such as four-way spandex.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an overhead perspective view of one embodiment of a palm side of a pair of protective gloves of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 2 illustrates an overhead view of a back side of the pair of protective gloves of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a base layer and an antimicrobial layer of the palm side of the protective glove of the present invention being worn in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the pair of protective gloves of the present invention being worn in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the pair of protective gloves of the present invention in use in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the pair of protective gloves of the present invention in use in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of a base layer and an antimicrobial layer of a palm side of a protective glove of the present invention being worn in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They do not intend as an exhaustive description of the invention or do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a protective glove made from a natural copper woven mesh fabric, a copper powder, a copper plated polyester fabric, or a copper metal powder mesh material with a polyester base that covers at least the entire palm surface of the hand. Wire mesh, or wire fabric, is a prefabricated joined grid consisting of a series of parallel longitudinal copper wires with accurate spacing woven to cross wires at the required spacing. In one example, the copper wire mesh fabric it is woven at 200 mesh using 0.04 mm size wire. The copper woven fabric or copper metal powder mesh kills most pathogens on contact and typically completely eradicates many pathogens within two hours. The invention ensures that pathogens are eliminated from the surface of the glove to prevent retransmission through surface touching. The invention uses a tear resistant material that also reduces the chance of self-infection.

The protective glove is designed to reduce the transmission and infection of most pathogens using the natural antimicrobial properties of copper metal. The palm surface of copper woven fabric on a polyester base flexibly covers the entire palm surface. The back side of the glove is typically an elastane material, such a wick-proof four-way spandex that gives the glove the ability to expand. The size of the gloves may vary and include small, medium, and large options.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a protective glove 100. The protective glove 100 is antimicrobial in nature and comprises a palm side 110 and a back side 130 joined along a seam 130. The protective glove 100 is reusable and may be cleaned using an alcohol solution. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 the seam 130 may be stitched, reinforced, bonded, welded, fused, heat sealed, or the like, or any other type of seam construction. In one example, the palm side 110 is attached to the back side 130 using a single tight stitch using a polyester thread. The seam 130 may also be water-resistant or waterproof. The palm side 110 and the back side 130 terminate in fingertips of the protective glove 100 and in a wrist 140. The protective glove 100 may be manufactured in various sizes and configurations, such as small, medium, large, and extra-large so as to fit a variety of users.

The palm side 110 comprises an antimicrobial layer 114. The antimicrobial layer 114 is a layer of copper material having an antimicrobial effective amount of copper. The antimicrobial effective amount of copper will vary upon the overall surface area of an outer surface of the palm side 110 of the protective glove 100. The antimicrobial layer 114 is typically a copper woven fabric or mesh constructed as described supra. The term antimicrobial effective amount is used for an amount of copper in sufficient purity to kill more than 99.9% of the microorganisms within two hours of contact as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Additionally, the copper may be provided as a powder, a mesh, and a polyester blend. In one embodiment, the copper woven fabric is a copper mesh with a copper purity of approximately 99.451% copper and a copper polyester blend with a copper purity of approximately 82.041% and 0.905% tin. The copper mesh fabric is pure copper wire mesh (250 Mesh) with a diameter of approximately 0.04 mm.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the palm side 114 further comprises a base layer 112 disposed under and attached to the antimicrobial layer 114. The base layer 112 is mechanically or adhesively bonded to the antimicrobial layer 114. The base layer 112 is typically a flexible polyester material. The combination of the base layer 112 and the antimicrobial layer 114 creates the tear resistant palm side 110. Additionally, the copper is plated on both sides of the polyester fabric.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the back side 120 is typically manufactured from a wick-proof material. The back side 120 may be manufactured from an elastane material, such as four-way spandex for flexibility. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the flexibility of the material is important to give the protective glove 100 the ability to expand and allow the user to flex. This assists the user in donning and doffing in addition to the ability to perform delicate tasks while wearing the protective glove 100.

In an additional embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 7, a protective glove 200 comprises a palm side 210 and a back side 220 joined along a seam 230. The seam 230 may be stitched, reinforced, bonded, welded, fused, heat sealed, or the like, or any other type of seam construction. The seam 230 may also be water-resistant or waterproof. The palm side 210 and the back side 230 terminate in fingertips of the protective glove 200 and in a wrist 240.

The palm side 210 comprises an antimicrobial copper layer 214. The antimicrobial copper layer 214 is a layer of copper material having an antimicrobial effective amount of copper. The antimicrobial effective amount of copper will vary upon the overall surface area of an outer surface of the palm side 210 of the protective glove 200. The antimicrobial copper layer 214 is typically a pure copper metal powder mesh. The pure copper metal powder mesh may be similar to the mesh used for cold casting and inlays. The pure copper metal powder mesh may have a mesh count of approximately between 300 and 400. In one example, the pure copper metal powder mesh may be 325 Mesh (44 microns). In one embodiment, the copper powder has a copper purity of approximately 99.9% copper with a particle size of approximately 0.3 μm.

The palm side 214 further comprises a base layer 212 disposed under and bonded to the antimicrobial copper layer 214. The base layer 212 is typically adhesively bonded to the antimicrobial copper layer 214 with a polymer adhesive 218. The polymer adhesive 218 may be polymer rubber, such as Performix 12219 Plasti Dip, that is used to fuse the flexible base layer 212 to the antimicrobial copper layer 214. The base layer 212 is typically a flexible polyester material. The combination of the base layer 212 and the antimicrobial copper layer 214 creates the tear resistant palm side 210.

The back side 220 is typically manufactured from a wick-proof material. The back side 220 may be manufactured from an elastane material, such as four-way spandex for flexibility. The flexibility of the material is important to give the protective glove 200 the ability to expand and allow the user to flex. This assists the user in donning and doffing in addition to the ability to perform delicate tasks while wearing the protective glove 200.

A process for creating the protective glove 200 may use a copper powder with a purity of approximately 99.9% and a particle size of approximately 0.3 μm, a four way spandex material, a canvas material, a Plastic-Dip Liquid rubber coating for creating the rubber polymer bond and a layer of protection between the hand and the inside palm of the glove, and polyester thread. The process includes thinly brushing the rubber coating on the canvas fabric, spraying copper powder on the surface of the prepped rubber coating on the canvas fabric, and brushing off the excess powder once dried. Then, spandex and the prepped canvas fabric is cut to size using a glove pattern template. A single tight stich of polyester thread is used to connect the spandex and the prepped canvas fabric with an approximately ¼ inch safety zone around the stitch. Finally, the protective glove 200 is flipped inside out.

It is contemplated that the protective glove 100 constructed in accordance with the present invention will be tailored and adjusted by those of ordinary skill in the art to accommodate various levels of performance demand imparted during actual use. Accordingly, while this invention has been described by reference to certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be understood that this invention is capable of further modifications. This application is, therefore, intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following the general principles thereof, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the protective glove 100 of the present invention and its various structural components can be of any suitable size, shape, and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the shape and size of the protective glove 100 and its various components and material, as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other shapes and sizes of the protective glove 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the protective glove 100 are important design parameters for attaining maximum antimicrobial effects, the protective glove 100 and its components may be of any shape or size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits user need and/or preference.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective glove comprising: a palm side comprising an antimicrobial layer; a back side; and a seam joining the palm side to the back side; and wherein the antimicrobial layer has an antimicrobial effective amount of copper.
 2. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein the palm side further comprises a base layer attached to the antimicrobial layer.
 3. The protective glove of claim 2, wherein the base layer is flexible.
 4. The protective glove of claim 2, wherein the base layer is polyester.
 5. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein the palm side is tear resistant.
 6. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial layer is a copper woven fabric.
 7. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein the back side is wick-proof.
 8. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein the back side is elastane.
 9. A protective glove comprising: a palm side comprising a base layer and an antimicrobial copper layer disposed over the base layer; a back side; and a seam joining the palm side to the back side; and wherein the antimicrobial copper layer has an antimicrobial effective amount of copper.
 10. The protective glove of claim 9, wherein the base layer is polyester.
 11. The protective glove of claim 9, wherein the antimicrobial copper layer is a copper woven fabric.
 12. The protective glove of claim 9, wherein the base layer is mechanically bonded to the antimicrobial copper layer.
 13. The protective glove of claim 9, wherein the base layer is adhesively bonded to the antimicrobial copper layer.
 14. The protective glove of claim 9, wherein the back side is wick-proof.
 15. The protective glove of claim 9, wherein the back side is elastane.
 16. A protective glove comprising: a palm side comprising a flexible base layer and an antimicrobial copper layer bonded to the flexible base layer with a polymer adhesive; a back side; and a seam joining the palm side to the back side; and wherein the antimicrobial copper layer has an antimicrobial effective amount of copper.
 17. The protective glove of claim 16, wherein the polymer adhesive is a polymer rubber.
 18. The protective glove of claim 16, wherein the antimicrobial copper layer is a pure copper metal powder mesh.
 19. The protective glove of claim 18, wherein the pure copper metal powder mesh has a mesh count of between 300 and
 400. 20. The protective glove of claim 16, wherein the back side is a wick-proof four-way spandex. 